Abstract
We report what to our knowledge are the first observations of an increase in the On-Axis intensity of an intense cw On-Resonance beam resulting from nonlinear absorption and diffraction during its propagation through a highly absorbing medium (sodium vapor). This "Self-Focusing" is not a Self-Lensing; instead it is modeled well by placing an aperture part way through the cell: The stripping by the aperture approximates the effect of the nonlinear absorption, and then Fresnel diffraction results in On-Axis minima and maxima.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 243-245 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Optics letters |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1984 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics